Transfer of Points from Qantas to Starwood?

[Ando Boy]

I am interested to know if there is any restriction or means of getting Qantas Frequent Flyer Points over to the Starwood Preferred Guest Program (Sheraton). If it can be done, is it a 1:1 arrangment?

 

[thadocta]

Once points are creditted to a QF account, they cannot be moved out, except to another QF members account, and only once every 12 months.

Dave

 

[Julie Williams]

I'm pretty sure that you can transfer points from the Amex card to Starwood but don't think it is 1:1. Amex can have points transferred to Qantas too.

Starwood can transfer points directly to Qantas but don't think it works the other way, but suggest to contact Qantas as they sometimes have these little perks they do and don't tell anyone.

Starwood is a good hotel chain as there aren't blackout dates and I've always got rooms no matter when or where in Australia, New Zealand and USA.

Keep us posted if you can transfer :wink:

 

[NM]

Starwood can transfer points directly to Qantas but don't think it works the other way, but suggest to contact Qantas as they sometimes have these little perks they do and don't tell anyone.

thadocta has already posted the correct information here. Once points are in your QF FF account, you cannot transfer them out to ANY other program. They can only used for QF FF Award Redemptions, which include flights, upgrades, and some products and services from partners including car rental and hotel accommodation.

You can transfer to another family member's QF FF account (once per year).

Many people got caught out a few years back when they "earned" large amounts of QF FF points through a promotion with Inside Flyer magazine where they offered Starwood points for magazine subscriptions. At the time you could transfer Starwood -> Qantas at 2:1. They had grand visions of buying a few thousand dollars worth of magazine subscriptions, transferring the Starwood points to QF and redeeming for Concorde flights for 125,000 QF FF points return JFK-LHR-Europe (last leg in BA Club World). But when Concorde stopped services soon after, not all the hopefuls managed to book seats as planned - some did and got a great deal. Then QF changed the redemption rates, and now they have changes them again.

Now their points are stuck in in-active QF accounts that cannot be transferred anywhere else. As most of these people are resident in North America, they can realistically only redeem for AA domestic or BA/AA international flights at redemption rates that make their initial 2:1 transfer from Starwood look considerably less attractive than their Concorde redemption goals.

So once your points are in QF, they can't be sent to any other program. This is why I leave my Amex, Diners Club and Visa points in their own accounts until I need them for a QF award redemption. I might just find a better deal somewhere else (like transferring to AA).

 

[thadocta]

Now their points are stuck in in-active QF accounts that cannot be transferred anywhere else.

They can be transferred to me - I am sure I have a long lost uncle/aunt/cousin/whatever over there!

Dave

 

[Julie Williams]

Hi Dave

Can I share the points with you!!!!!! Do you have a popular surname??? Mine is - maybe I can try and do a swifty (Only joking).

The best thing about being able to share them now is that you move little points (ie ones from my daughters who only fly once a year) to mine or hubby's account and be able to use them for a decent business class flight.

You would think that Qantas (and other airlines) would let you move points to who ever so that they could let people use the points and get them out of their systems.

Haven't thought it through but giving away one free seat on an international flight in business class is probably more economical for the airline (as most flights have these seats free) thatn having to give away lots of short haul economy flights where they could probably sell the seat?
(Someone out there is going to prove me wrong - but as I said I hadn't worked the finance out just thinking aloud in words!!!) :wink:

This has worked out good for my brother as he just married and American and has transferred her grannies and aunts and uncles and in-laws points to his/her account and used them for their honeymoon. Plus they also got a wedding present from each of them!!!

 

[thadocta]

The best thing about being able to share them now is that you move little points (ie ones from my daughters who only fly once a year) to mine or hubby's account and be able to use them for a decent business class flight.

Actually, I find that the best thing about the ability to transfer points is my relatives who are Bronze or Silver can avail themselves of the extra available in steerage class that Gold and Platinum members are able to access. They could have done that in the past, but now they will be using their own points, not mine.

Dave

 

[MetroAir]

Starwood also give you 5000 point bonus when you transfer 20000 points. Only problem is that they take forever to move them across. They say 4 - 6 weeks but you can wait much longer for them to appear.

I also leave points in other accounts until I need them then transfer, the FFPs probably don't like that much.